Singer Featherweight Model 222K
Most of the million or so Featherweights are Model 221; the 222K
is the free-arm version, and only nine or ten thousand of them were built.
They look extremely similar to the 221 (my mom's is a 221, here's its page) but have two extra features:
- the main bed is removable (it's off in this photo) which leaves a bed about the size
of your wrist for hemming cuffs and mending in tight spaces.
- feed-dog lowering lever (left hand lever of the two above the gold emblem)
for darning and free stitching
All of the 222Ks came from the Singer Clydesbank factory in
Kilbowie, on the bank of the River Clyde, Scotland. Made of cast alloy
and considered possibly the finest Singer ever made, it is said that it
took a team of engineers six months to design her -- she
epitomizes the best of Scottish precision engineering and manufacture.
Thanks very much to friends Andy and Laurie for parting with this
beautiful machine in April 2003.
This machine's serial number, EK326499, indicates that it was built shortly after the 14th of March, 1955.
Here's some Photoshop magic showing the 222K with its bed off and on.
